We invite you to the Official CalChess State Championship Events. (Approved by CalChess and US Chess Federation.)
See details below.

2022-23 CalChess Scholastic
Super States Championship League
for PK-12 at all levels (with free parking)!

Play and Stay at Sonesta Silicon Valley on 1820 Barber Ln, Milpitas
(Age Levels Championship will be held at Sonesta San Jose, 777 Bellew Dr., Milpitas)

Register Change
Stay at Sonesta Silicon Valley Stay at Sonesta San Jose
Tourney Date Rating Supplement which is the
rating as of
Age Levels Jan. 28,’23 Dec. ’22 Nov. 17, ’22
Girls Rating Levels Jan. 29, ’23 Dec. ’22 Nov. 17, ’22
K-5 States Mar. 11 &12, ’23 Mar. ’23 Feb. 16, ’23
K-8 States Apr. 1 & 2, ’23 Mar. ’23 Feb. 16, ’23
K-12 States Apr. 15 & 16, ’23 Mar. ’23 Feb. 16, ’23

Welcome to the Chessiest Place on Earth!
Live Entries based on start date:
Processed Entries:
Please read on for details and register ASAP to save your money (and our time) before late fees start.
Also, the registration may close anytime (whenever we reach capacity under health and safety protocols)!
We will share the detailed orientation information a few days before each tourney weekend.

    • Personalized Registration Help

      1. Please contact us using this form.
      2. Join us for a live Ask Me Anything town hall on Zoom (Meeting ID 91847146324) from 7-7:30pm on Sundays and Thursdays from January 12 to 26. (We will announce additional dates before every tournament weekend).

Awards Click here to expand/contract this section like an accordion

Register Change

      • Individual Awards

        1. Trophies to all players with a winning record.
        2. Medals to all players who do not get a trophy.

      • School Team Awards

        Trophies to all school teams.

      • Club Team Awards

        Trophies to all club teams.
      1. The trophy sizes depend on the players’ standings.
      2. A team (school or club) has a minimum of 2 players; a team’s score is:
        1. The sum of the top 3 players’ scores in Grade Levels, Age Levels, and Girls Championships.
        2. The sum of the top 4 players’ scores in K-5, K-8, and K-12 Championships.

Discounts & Fees Click here to expand/contract this section like an accordion

Register Change

      • Fees Summary

        Entry
        Type        		 Non-BAC
        member        		 BAC
        Member
        Most*
        2-Day
        Sections        		 93 70
        All
        1-Day
        Sections        		 66 50
        Blitz 33 25
        Bughouse 33
        (pair 55)        		 25
        (pair 41)
        * Note: K-12 Champ section on 4/15-16/22 is 99 (and includes FIDE rating fees).

      • Buy More & Save

        Number
        of Events        		 Discount
        1 0
        2 10
        3 20
        4 35
        5 50
        6 70
        7 90
        8 90 +
        20x(N*-7)
        * N = number of events

      • Cancelations, Changes, and Refunds

        Days
        before the
        tourney        		 A M O U N T
        Late Cancel Change
        7+ 0 0* 0
        5-6 10 10 4
        3-4 20 20 9
        1-2 30 N/A** 12
        Onsite 40 N/A** 15

        Note:
        *excluding Paypal fee (between 3-5%)
        **N/A = no refund

    • Buy More & Save Examples

      For example, a first-grader girl rated 500 (who is 6 years old on 12/31/22) gets a $350 discount if she plays in the following 20 sections:
      Weekend S A T U R D A Y S U N D A Y
      Day Evening Day Evening
      12/17-18/22 Grade 1 Champ K-3 Blitz K-5 Jr. Varsity K-6 Bughouse
      1/28-29/23 Age 6 u800 Ages 4-9 Blitz Girls K-12 Beginner K-12 Jr Varsity Blitz
      3/11-12/23 K-3 Jr Varsity K-3 Blitz K-5 Jr. Varsity K-5 Bughouse
      3/25-26/23 K-6 Jr Varsity K-6 Blitz K-8 Intermediate K-8 Bughouse
      4/15-16/23 K-12 Intermediate K-12 Blitz K-6 Intermediate K-12 Bughouse

Registration Information
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Register Change

      • What’s Expected?

          1. Come as you are! We welcome all PK-12 players regardless of their rating and playing level.
          2. US Chess and CalChess memberships are required; if you’re not a current member, you must renew/signup with your tournament registration so we can process and reconcile your entry.
          3. We may adjust round times if needed (but it is unlikely).
          4. Be nice to everyone!

      • What’s New?

        1. The CalChess SuperStates and Grade Level Championship are spread over several weekends.
        2. 2. The tournament site is Sonesta Silicon Valley on 1820 Barber Ln in (South) Milpitas, instead of the Santa Clara Convention Center

    • Post-Registration Instructions

      1. Check Processed Entries to confirm registration two weeks before the event date.
      2. Use the change form for all changes and corrections. (Please do not request changes via email.)
      3. Add @bayareachess.com to safe senders to receive emails with orientation and other notifications.
      4. Reconfirm the email address, grade, USCF ID (if available), and other information in your profile.
      5. Contact us for any questions or suggestions.

    • Financial Transparency

        1. The entry fees for members are slightly lower based on a donation by the Azhar Family.
        2. The entry fees for non-members are slightly higher due to inflation and the extra cost of COVID prevention protocols.

Play-up Rules Click here to expand/contract this section like an accordion

Register Change
    • The Play-up fee is 28 (BAC members pay 21). Players may
      • Play in their natural section without a play-up fee
      • Play up in any higher grade section during the March and April 2023 events without a play-up fee (provided the section is in the player’s rating range).
      • Play up one section above their natural section by paying a play-up fee

      Please see play-up rules examples below.
      1. Play-up fee is not required if you’re playing in your natural section. For example:
        1. A first grader rated 500 can play in these sections without a play-up fee:
          1. Grade 1 Championship on Sat. 12/17/22
          2. K-5 JV (u600) on Sun. 12/18/22
        2. A fourth grader rated 300 can play in these sections without a play-up fee: K-5 JV (u600) on Sun. 12/18/22
      2. Play-up fee is required if you’re playing in one section above your natural section. For example:
        1. A first grader rated 500 can play up for a play-up fee in K-8 JV (u800) on Sun. 12/18/22 [because it is one level above their natural section is K-5 JV]
        2. A fourth grader rated 300 can play up for a play-up fee in K-8 JV (u800) on Sun. 12/18/22 [because it is one level above their natural section is K-5 Beginner (u600)]
      3. Playing up two sections above your natural section is not allowed. For example:
        1. A first grader rated 500 cannot play in K-12 JV (u1000) on Sun. 12/18/22 [because that is two levels above their natural section (K-5 JV)]
        2. A fourth grader rated 300 cannot play in K-12 JV (u1000) on Sun. 12/18/22 [because that is two levels above their natural section (K-5 JV)]
      4. Playing up in a higher age group is not allowed in the Age Levels on Sat. January 28. See examples in the table below:
        Age on 12/31/22 Rating as 11/17/22 (Dec @rsquo;22 Supplement) Without a play-up fee With a play-up fee
        6 700 Age 6 (u800) Kirshner Cup*
        11 900 Age 11 (u1000) Azhar Cup*
        * Note: Without a play-up fee, Kirshner Cup requires a minimum rating of 800 and Azhar Cup requires a minimum rating of 1000.

Schedule & Fees Details
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Register Change
    1. Time Controls
      1. G/M dS means each player gets M minutes/game and S seconds/move (before the clock starts running).
      2. G/M +S means each player gets M minutes/game and a bonus of S seconds after every move.
    2. Please request a bye If you are going to miss a game for any reason.
      1. You may request a bye while registering using the Additional notes field.
      2. You may request a bye after registering using the change form.
      3. Missing a game without requesting a bye results in an automatic removal because it is bad etiquette to have other players wait without a game.
      4. ½-point byes are available for all rounds except the last game.
      5. 0-point byes are available for the last round
      6. A maximum of one ½-point bye is allowed for each player per section. ' Any other byes must be 0-point byes. If you request more than one bye, we will give you a ½-point for the latest round possible (and 0-point bye(s) for all other games).
    3. Click on the spreadsheet below and scroll down to see all tournaments. You may also open the spreadsheet in a separate window using this link